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BIOHAZARD :
NEW WORLD DISORDER
I have followed these guys from their first CD till now, and I can say without a doubt, this is the worst one they have put out. The songs are heavy... and fast, but the catchy hooks, which put them above other Hard Core and Crossover acts, are simply not there. I know these guys can come up with better than this, their first 3 CDs are classic ("State Of The World Address" is a must have), and the live CD "No Holds Barred" is one of the best live outings I have ever heard. I think maybe they are trying to hard to be heavy, to avoid any signs of selling out, but in the process, the songs (and we) are suffering. So, if you don't have all the old stuff, get that first. Lets hope they get back on track for the next one, as it would be a shame to go out like this. (As a side note, Biohazard is one the BEST live bands. Don't miss them if you get the chance.)
RATING = 6 Cross Over (NYC Hardcore/Metal) (Released 1999)
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BIOHAZARD :
UNCIVILIZATION
Well, the Metal-NY Hardcore cross over kings are back with the follow up to their disappointing '99 effort New World Disorder. It's kind of eerie that this came out the same day the WTC hijackings occurred... I was pretty scared before I started playing this thing, as there are a butt-load of guest appearances, and we all know that is usually a last ditch effort of a dying band. Appearing for your listening please are: Slipknot, Phil Anselmo (Pantera), Peter Steele (Type-O-Negative), Sen Dog (Cypress Hill), Andreas Kisser & Derrick Green (Sepultura), Roger Miret (Agnostic Front), Danny Diablo & Puerto Rican Mike (Skarhead), Jamie Jasta (Hatebreed) and Igor Calavera (Soulfly). Now that's out of control!!! But, thank god, this still sounds like a Biohazard disc. As soon as you're 10 seconds into track one, you can tell that they are clinging to their hardcore roots like a Titanic passenger clinging to a life jacket, each trying desperately to survive in a harsh environment. Every now and then throughout the disc, they almost creep into Nu-Metal territory, but they never cross the line. This disc does improve over the last outing, but falls short of their past efforts, such as; "Urban Discipline" and "State of the World Address". A worthy effort, but I expect more from this band. Be warned, there is also a digi-pack limited edition with a orange and black cover, and 3 bonus tracks!
RATING = 7 Cross Over (NYC Hardcore/Metal) (Released 2001)
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BIOHAZARD :
KILL OR BE KILLED
I've been a fan of Biohazard since their first CD came out in 1990. Their first three discs are classic, and they seemed to peak with "State of the World Address" in '94. After that, the releases have been OK, but nothing in comparison to the greatness of those early works. 1996's "Mata Leao" had problems, 1997's "No Hold's Barred: Live in Europe" was pretty damn good, due to all the older material, but then 1999's "New World Disorder" was another mediocre affair, and 2001's "Uncivilization" was only a little better. Many attribute this to the loss of guitarist Bobby Hambel, and maybe there is something to that. Either way, recent efforts have been lacking. Well, it looks like the events of 9/11 were what it took to get this machine back into gear. This was originally going to be titled "Never Forgive, Never Forget", and the original cover depicted a lone person in what I assume is a NYC graveyard (see scan below).
But, I guess for whatever political type or sales reasons, they changed it. I'm not saying this is as good as SOTWA, but it is the best studio effort since that time. Evan is just pissed off beyond all recognition, and screamin' his lungs out. The songs, while remaining heavy as hell, have gotten some of that long lost groove back. Definitely a step in the right direction for this band. Maybe if Evan would stop showing his "wang" on the HBO prison series "OZ" he could concentrate more on getting this band to the level it should be at.
RATING = 8 Cross Over (NYC Hardcore/Metal) (Released 2003)
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BIOHAZARD :
MEANS TO AN END
First things first, anyone recognise that cover? Look above at the review for "Kill Or Be Killed"... I guess they already paid for the art, might as well use it. Of course, the image of a graveyard with the tower-less NYC skyline in the background would have had much more impact a couple of years ago, than it does today. Anyway, it looks like Evan has been able to take a little time away from his porn career to devote to our beloved Biohazard. That's right kids, I said porn. If you don't know, he's married to porn star Tera Patrick, manages her, and now even appears with her in movies under the pseudonym "Spyder Jonez". If you keep up to date on your useless music trivia and news, then you've known about this for a while, but for those of you with the shocked looks on your faces, I swear I'm not making this up. Anyway, this is studio platter number eight. Wow, how time flies eh? ...So, I love Biohazard, and you love Biohazard, I mean, who doesn't? But we all know they peaked back in '94. Check the calendar dude, that's over a decade ago. That's right, a freakin' DECADE! I keep hanging on as well, but I have finally come to terms with the fact that we are never going to recapture the magic that was present on those first three discs. Why Bobby, why did you have to leave the band?! ...who the hell knows? But yet again, his former position has been re-filled with yet another newcomer, guitarist Scott Roberts. That's replacement number four if you're counting... Sure, we can still expect some good discs from the boys, but I don't think we'll see another disc from these guys topping anyone's "best of the year" list any time soon. 2003's "Kill Or Be Killed" was the best one from the boys in a long time, they had managed to get some of that "long lost grove back", as I put it. Well, most of that grove has gone on walk-about again, as "Means To An End" is just a constant 33-minute and 49-second pummelling from start to finish. Now, I like a solid pummelling as much as the next guy, but it's the grove that set these guys apart, that and their infectious choruses. There's not too much of either to be found here. However, it's fast as hell, and the band seems as pissed off as they did 16 years ago, so this still sounds like Biohazard, and I'd still recommend it to any fan. I know I'm gonna give it some serious rotation time in my disc player over the next few weeks. It's just not what you'd call da' "bomb", or the "shit", or whatever term you prepubescent miscreants are using these days.
RATING = 7 Cross Over (NYC Hardcore/Metal) (Released 2005)
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